Help - Can someone identify this part and provide some advice?

M

mannysingh

Member
Hi all,

First post following my purchase of my 2001 1.4 SE in Feb 2009 and subsequently finding this site.

I had my first trip in a year to a local independent mechanic for a replacement spring on the drivers side.

Spring replaced all sorted however the mechanic pointed out an issue. He explained that their appeared to be a part missing in the central hub of the wheel on the drivers side..

I have attached a picture of the passenger side front wheel and am trying to identify what the part/bit is in the picture that is attached. The piece in question is the circle one silver/grey thick looking thing. I have labelled one picture with an arrow..

The drivers side where it is missing is just blank with nothing in it. There is a bit of rust in their which makes it sound like it has missing for some time..

Mechanic said he had not seen something like this before but said it was some sort of 'Spline' bolt?

Can anyone help identify what it is called? and where would I get such a thing?

Is it a serious problem? Ive had no driving issues and have recently travelled to Paris from Gatwick and back a 700 odd mile round trip with no issues!

If its not very clear do let me know and I will try and explain more..

Thanks for reading..

Manny
 
Hi Manny,

If you're saying what I think you're saying then please do the following:

STOP DRIVING THE CAR AT ONCE!!

The thing you're pointing to is the main retaining nut that holds the hub onto the driveshaft.

The nut shown has now been superceeded and is no longer available, but the new type is backwards compatible, so you need to get 2 asap. 1 to replace what's missing and 1 to replace the old one that's still there.

The part number you need is as follows:

6Q0 407 396B and they're around £4 each.

Please can you post a photo of the other side for me, just so I can be sure of what;s missing.

Cheers.

Mike
 
Hi Mike
Thank you for your reply. I will get a picture up first thing..

If it turns out to be what you are saying I assume I would need to order direct from Audi? Are these things easy to fit as the mechanic was not too sure!

Manny
 
Yes, go direct to any franchised dealership - they can normally get the parts next day if ordered before 12 and they're in stock at the UK warehouse.

Fitting the new nut needs a 36mm bi-hex socket (that's 12 points) and a torque wrench. Taking off the old type nut needs a 19mm hex key (allen key). It's not a tricky job, but when the old type nut is removed, checkl that the amount of thread showing is the same on the other side, as it may well have slipped a little whilst it's been unsecured.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Thanks once again Mike most helpful - will get that pic up in morn but I think you have solved it from what I can see on google images.

Manny
 
Hope it's problem solved anyway - just so you know, the driveshaft is locktite'd on as well and there's the tie rod/wishbone/damper that helps to hold the hub in place too, but the nut does take most of the strain.

You've been incredibly luck not to have lost a wheel in your recent journeys, but if it is a missing nut, please don't tempt fate by using the car until it's fixed.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Updated Picture retaining nut that holds the hub onto the driveshaft

Hi Mike

I have managed to get a picture of the opposite side and attached this. Hope it is clear enough and you can see the missing retaining nut that holds the hub onto the driveshaft? (if that is what it is)

dan_b - looking at the rust looks like it may have been some time. I've never taken the wheel off since purchase, have been travelling back home to the midlands trips away etc.. not the sort of thing I would of checked when buying the car..scary stuff however considering the potential damage that may have been caused..
 
Hi,
Just a bit more information to add. I have spoken to the mechanic who confirms it is the retaining nut that holds the hub onto the driveshaft. He has said that it appears the head is missing and half the bolt is still in there so there is some sort of support.

Looks like it could be a lot of drilling but unable to tell me what other bits will need to be replaced when drilling/knocking out the broken nut..

If anyone has any further advice they can provide it would be appreciated for example whats the worst case scenario and costs associated with it etc..

Eitherway I will be taking the car back in on Monday morning first thing for whatever it is that needs to be done to be carried out..

Any more advice appreciated..

Manny
 
Yes, luckily there's a part of the nut left in place - the threaded part with the 2 prongs that make it a non-return item.

However, this is one of the reasons it was replaced with the newer sort. Getting the old piece out is going to be pretty easy - just bend the prongs back in towards the threaded shaft, lubricate well and then use a set of long nosed pliers to unscrew the remainder of the nut.

Once this is done, I'd suggest you have the hub removed and clean all the areas of the rust before re-assemly and putting the new-style nuts on both sides.

You have been very lucky on this occasion - do you know the lottery numbers?

Cheers,

Mike
 
Mike,

Will pass on info to mechanic when I see him and post an update on this post as to what happened.

I think we have been extremely lucky considering we have had a couple of trips down to the Isle of Wight and across the coast to Paris since we got the car!

Think I may have a punt on the lotto tonight just to be on the safe side!

Thanks once again Mike - good valuable insight..nice to have a place where you can get opinions and thoughts of others. Much appreciated.

Manny
 
Just out of interest should this not have been picked up during the MOT of the car? (if was missing when the car was MOT'd):confused:
 
At MOT time, there is no disassembly allowed of any part of the car (this obviously doesn't include opening the doors etc), so the removal of a wheel centre cap is not an option for a tester, hence it was missed.

I know that on lesser cars, the bonnet is allowed to be opened, as you're not disassembling anything - the bonnet remains attached to the car. However, I'm just wondering now if they can take the bonnet off an A2, as strictly speaking, they're disassembling it!

Cheers,

Mike
 
hi mike at my last mot i was asked how do you open the bonnet? i said you have its the flap at the front.i then told him that the two big turn screws removed the bonnet. his response was " removes? it oh i cant do that, if it doesn't open i cant remove it!"
i did offer to hold it for him but he insisted "no"
cheers mike
ps i recon injection looms could be as popular as cruise control conversions;)
 
On the MOT point the bonnet needing removal was the reason mine failed on light alignment last year as to adjust the aim the mechanic would have had to have removed the bonnet which he couldnt do... Stupid really.
 
My last MOT was done FOC at Milton Keynes Audi and im not aware of the process. What i can say though is that at the previous MOT i was asked to remove the bonnet for the tester to do his thing - not sure what they did but humpy passed with flying colours then too.
Seems a bizare "technicality" though.
 
Quick Update

Hi All,

Great news - got the car back today both retaining nuts changed and all sorted.
Great advice - thanks Mike very much appreciated..especially the information on removal which helped a great deal!

Next on the list - 2 rear tyres!

Manny
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top